Storm Lake water level · IA
Wind forecast, gusts, and gage height for small-craft sailing at Storm Lake (Storm Lake At Storm Lake).
Gage height recorded at USGS gauge 05482140, refreshed every 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the sensor.
13.55ft
recorded Nov 4, 9:00 AM
−0.07ft
falling
+0.06ft
rising
13.45–13.64ft
lowest to highest
55.2°F
USGS sensor
Recent daily readings
| Date | Level (ft) | Δ day |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4● | 13.55 | ↓ 0.09 |
| Nov 3 | 13.64 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Nov 2 | 13.63 | ↑ 0.11 |
| Nov 1 | 13.52 | ↑ 0.02 |
| Oct 31 | 13.50 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 30 | 13.49 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 29 | 13.50 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 28 | 13.49 | ↑ 0.04 |
| Oct 27 | 13.45 | ↓ 0.03 |
| Oct 26 | 13.48 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Oct 25 | 13.50 | ↑ 0.03 |
| Oct 24 | 13.47 | ↓ 0.03 |
| Oct 23 | 13.50 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 22 | 13.51 | — |
Readings fetched Nov 4, 9:26 AM; the chart above loads the latest data live from USGS.
Storm Lake water level questions
- What is the water level at Storm Lake today?
- 13.55 ft, recorded Nov 4, 9:00 AM at USGS gauge 05482140. The chart above refreshes live from the same gauge.
- Is Storm Lake rising or falling?
- rising — 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.
- How does this compare to normal for Storm Lake?
- Over the last 14 days the gauge has ranged from 13.45 ft to 13.64 ft; today's reading sits in the middle of that range.
- Where does the water level data for Storm Lake come from?
- USGS gauge 05482140 (Storm Lake At Storm Lake), which reports every 15 minutes to 1 hour. Readings are provisional until reviewed by the USGS.
- What is the water temperature at Storm Lake?
- 55.2°F at the latest gauge reading.
Gage height history
Gage height · USGS gauge 05482140
Reading the chart. This gauge reports gage height — the depth of water above the sensor reference point, not absolute elevation. Trends matter more than the absolute number: a falling trend means shrinking launch depth.
Water levels respond to dam operations, irrigation drawdown, snowmelt, and recent rainfall. For launch decisions, combine the trend here with the wind forecast — low water plus strong wind makes steep, tired ramps.
About this lake
- Location
- 42.6241°, -95.1753°
- Gauge datum
- 1,385 ft
- USGS gauge
- 05482140
- Water temp sensor
- Yes
Water level data comes from the USGS gauge above; wind is modeled for the lake’s coordinates by Open-Meteo. Always confirm conditions locally before launching — shorelines, ramps, and trees can all change what you feel on the water. Midwest lakes are dominated by pre-frontal south winds that build through the day, then swing northwest sharply behind a cold front — the shift can arrive in minutes and double the gusts, especially on east–west basins.
Report an issue with lake data